Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn has addressed the rumors that he may retire at the end of the 2025 college baseball season. He was blunt in his response.
“I’m not retiring. I’m not going anywhere,” he told Tom Shatel at the Omaha World-Herald.
There was speculation that the longtime Razorbacks skipper may be heading toward retirement following his 23rd season at the helm of Arkansas’ baseball program. That was before Van Horn’s team cracked the College World Series barrier for the eighth time under his guidance. It comes following consecutive seasons where Arkansas’ season ended at the Fayetteville Regional. This was the first time since 2006-07 that this had happened.
I’ve said this all year, this is a special group,” Van Horn said following the Super Regional. “These guys have fun. They get along. They’re fun to coach, they’re fun to be around. They’ve got some personality. … It would’ve been hard, for me, if this good a team didn’t get to Omaha, without winning a championship somewhere. They didn’t win a trophy, they didn’t get a ring, they didn’t get the SEC Championship, didn’t get the Tournament championship.
If we would’ve lost this series, it would’ve been like, this is the best team that didn’t do anything. Now, it’s one of the best teams that’s ever come through here. You never know how it’s going to go from here, but they’re down to the final eight, and that’s a championship to me. That’s big.”
Jun 18, 2022; Omaha, NE, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks coach Dave Van Horn walks off the field after the national anthem before the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn has addressed the rumors that he may retire at the end of the 2025 college baseball season. He was blunt in his response.
“I’m not retiring. I’m not going anywhere,” he told Tom Shatel at the Omaha World-Herald.
There was speculation that the longtime Razorbacks skipper may be heading toward retirement following his 23rd season at the helm of Arkansas’ baseball program. That was before Van Horn’s team cracked the College World Series barrier for the eighth time under his guidance. It comes following consecutive seasons where Arkansas’ season ended at the Fayetteville Regional. This was the first time since 2006-07 that this had happened.
Van Horn was emotional after Arkansas’ Super Regional win against Tennessee, saying that it means a lot for this team to find its way to the CWS. He let his group know how proud he is of them for finishing the season playing at Charles Schwab Field Omaha.
“I’ve said this all year, this is a special group,” Van Horn said following the Super Regional. “These guys have fun. They get along. They’re fun to coach, they’re fun to be around. They’ve got some personality. … It would’ve been hard, for me, if this good a team didn’t get to Omaha, without winning a championship somewhere. They didn’t win a trophy, they didn’t get a ring, they didn’t get the SEC Championship, didn’t get the Tournament championship.
“If we would’ve lost this series, it would’ve been like, this is the best team that didn’t do anything. Now, it’s one of the best teams that’s ever come through here. You never know how it’s going to go from here, but they’re down to the final eight, and that’s a championship to me. That’s big.”
Despite Van Horn’s storied career in Fayetteville, he has yet to lead to Razorbacks to a national championship. As the No. 3 overall seed, Arkansas is the top-ranked team heading in Omaha. If this was going to be his last season, it would have been a strong way to end his career. Instead, it appears that Van Horn has some more coaching left in his tank.
Arkansas will open play in the College World Series against LSU on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. ET. The Razorbacks and Tigers played earlier this season in Baton Rouge, where LSU won the first two games of the series but failed to finish off the sweep. The Razorbacks are looking to avoid the upset this time around.
